Friday, November 6, 2015

14. Our Euro-US Researcher Hostel - Our Transitional Housing



View from the terrace of KG 672
Nov. 15, 2015
Kimihurura, Kigali, Rwanda

The small community of people living at KG 672 is wonderful. Not surprising -- Patrick is the able Rwandan property manager and has a developed "skill set" for assessing travelers. He's been working at the front desk of one of Kigali's hotels for at least 10 years. He has mastered the AirBnB system that is bringing guests to fill the rooms of this large, beautiful house.
Patrick - master house and hospitality manager

The first day we were invited by Laura and Marlou, the 20-something young ladies from the Netherlands, to see where the shortcut to the bus stop is and they showed us how to ride the bus into town. Laura and Marlue are students at Wagnenen University in NL, studying some area of community health. They are here on a UNICEF project to promote breastfeeding and they are writing their masters thesis on this topic. They will stay through the end of Jan. 2016 in Rwanda.
Laura and Marlou - multi-month residents doing research on a UNICEF project on breastfeeding.

Then we have the three Swedish students, Anna, Emily and Steena, who are  studying radio journalism in Rwanda. I think it is a project funded by the Swedish radio broadcasting company. They are staying in Rwanda until Dec. 17.

Steena, Emily and Anna are journalism researchers from Sweden.

Matt is the businessman from North Carolina who rented this house from the Rwandan landlords and then had to return home. It was great to meet him and learn about the Jibu drinking water distribution business he has set up.
Isaac and Naomi with Matt -- the N. Carolina businessman who turned an unfortunate change of plans due to a family situation into a wonderful AirBnB opportunity for many people to meet in Kigali!
This weekend (our second weekend) we have a "one night" couple staying here - Maria, who lives in the Hague (HL) and works for an impact investment fund. But she was born in Russia and grew up in NJ, finishing college at Rutgers. Her boyfriend is Peter, a Belgian, also living in NL, and he flew in to Kigali after a week of business in Singapore! (Sorry - didn't snap a photo of them.)

The other "members" of this lively household are Grace and Francoise. Grace is the housekeeper and she works 8 - 3pm, M - F. Francoise is here 24/7 and he is the security guard/gardener and maintenance man.  Francoise sleeps in a tiny room next to the front gate. Grace goes home every day to her family of 4 daughters. Her husband, I've learned, is out of work right now. I hope I can get a photo of them soon, too!





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